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Hybrid Operating Room

The first operation in Abington Memorial Hospital’s new $3.5 million hybrid operating room was performed in October 2012. Named in honor of V. Paul Addonizio, MD, who was a cardiothoracic surgeon at AMH, it is one of only a handful in the region. Specialists can perform catheter-based, minimally invasive procedures and have the capacity to perform full surgical interventions in one setting. Vascular surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, interventional cardiologists, neurosurgeons and neuro-interventionalists can take advantage of the new technology, which serves patients’ clinical needs and enhances patient safety.

Larger than a standard operating room, the hybrid OR accommodates fluoroscopy equipment from the catheterization laboratory with high definition video technology of the operating room. The addition of 3D imaging monitors enables overlaying technology of MRI and CAT scan imaging. By placing multiple monitors around the hybrid OR, physicians, technologists and nurses view patients’ progress and vitals.

Procedures performed in the hybrid OR include:

Endovascular abdominal aortic repair

Endovascular thoracic aortic repair

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Minimally invasive valve repair or replacement

Before the advent of the hybrid OR, procedures had to first be staged, in interventional radiology or cardiac catheterization labs, with surgery following at a later date. The hybrid OR allows for combined procedure technology, one stay and recovery for the patient – a more efficient and safer process.